Warangal: The long-awaited dream of establishing an airport at Mamnoor airfield in the erstwhile Warangal district is set to become a reality, thanks to recent actions by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the Congress government in Telangana.
As part of its commitment, the Congress government has initiated steps to develop Mamnoor airfield into a functional airport and has been in discussions with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials.
Historically, air services were operational at Mamnoor airfield from 1980. However, due to neglect by previous administrations and a lack of development efforts, these services were discontinued. Additionally, a significant portion of the airfield's land was encroached upon by land sharks.
Originally, Mamnoor airfield encompassed about 1,140 acres. Due to encroachment influenced by political leaders, only 693 acres remain today.
Under the previous BRS government, there were talks about renovating and establishing the airport at Mamnoor. A proposal was submitted to the state government, recommending an allocation of ₹1,200 crore and an additional 300 acres of land, aiming to extend the runway from 1.8 kilometers to 3.9 kilometers. AAI officials conducted ground inspections in Warangal on two occasions.
However, the BRS government responded that it could only allocate ₹500 crore and 253 acres of land, falling short of the proposed requirements. In August 2023, the government issued G.O. M.S.No 36 to acquire land in neighbouring villages, including Gadipally, Gunturpally, Nakkalapally, and Mamnoor. A request was also sent to Shamshad International Airport, located 145 kilometers away, for permission to establish the airport.
The Central government has now included Mamnoor airfield in the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik) scheme, signaling its support for the airport's development. However, work was halted following the 2023 election notification.
In a recent review meeting led by CM Revanth Reddy, the cabinet of ministers approved the allocation of the necessary land for the airport and instructed relevant departments to expedite the process.
With the Congress government’s decision and Andhra Pradesh MP Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu becoming Union minister of Civil Aviation, the long-cherished aspiration of Warangal residents to have an internationally standard airport at Mamnoor is on the brink of realisation.
